Photographer: Killion
(Monogram says "G W K")
343 Collinsville Ave, East St. Louis Ills.
example from LOST GALLERY
There were two photographers in the cabinet card era with the name George Killion. One had a studio in East Saint Louis, IL. The other was George Killion who worked in New York and was apparently never in East Saint Louis.
The George Killion from East Saint Louis, IL, worked as photographer from about 1905 to 1920 apparently always at 343 Collinsville.
George W Killion
(1848 - 1923)
1848 Feb
Washington IN, US census, George W Killion is born to Silas D Killion and Catherine Overshiner
1870 Apr 02
Jackson, IL, US census, Killion as farmer living with parents
1880 Jun 11
Ava, Jackson, IL, US census Killion as a barber
1880
Saint Louis, MO, city directory Killion NOT listed
1884 Feb
Washington, IN, state records, US census, George W Killion is born to Silas Killion and Catherine Overshiner
1892
US census, G W Killion marriage to Caroline B Kirkpatrick
1895 Apr 28
East St Louis (MO) Glove Democrat, news item about Killion selling photographs at celebration; mentioned as “photographer for the “Globe Democrat”
1900
East Saint Louis, MO, US census, G W Killion as barber; res 343 Collinsville av
1905, 1906, 1907
East Saint Louis, IL, city directory, as photographer at 343 Collinsville av
1907 Dec 20
St Louis (MO) Glove Democrat, item about Killion as the barber in suit with railroad
1910 19 Apr
East Saint Louis, IL, US census as photographer at 343 Collinsville av
1920 Jan 05
East Saint Louis, IL, US census, as photographer at 343 Collinsville
1923 Jul 22
East Saint Louis, IL, state records, G W Killion dies at age 75
The records are very thin but based on the few documents found, George Killion was a barber from 1880 to at least 1900. Somewhere in the late 1890’s he began a side line as photographer. Sometime between 1900 and 1906 he opened a photograph studio in his home at 343 Collinsville, IL. But even then, he was referred to as “Barber” and not “photographer” in news items.
All later records find him at the same address as a photographer until his death in 1923.
It is quite possible that he worked for other photographer studios early on, learning the trade, and even while he worked at this own studio in later years, but there are no records that substantiate this.
City Directory business page
28 Apr 1895
20 Dec 1907
20 Dec 1907
343 Collinsville Ave, East St Louis, MO
example from auction site
Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. Listed here are all the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY. This is a work in progress. For a look at the original postings go to LOST GALLERY.
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